Cheyenne, WY – The U.S. Air Force has arrested an airman in connection with the July 20 death of Airman Brayden Lovan, a 21-year-old security forces member fatally shot while on duty at F.E. Warren Air Force Base. The incident, which involved a Sig Sauer M18 pistol, initially sparked speculation about a possible “uncommanded discharge” of the military’s sidearm.
In a statement Friday, a Department of the Air Force spokesperson confirmed the unnamed airman is accused of making a false official statement, obstruction of justice, and involuntary manslaughter. “As with all individuals accused of a crime, the person arrested in this case is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law,” the spokesperson said.
The Incident and Immediate Response
Lovan, a remote targeting engagement system operator with the 90th Security Forces Group, was killed around 1:30 a.m. during an on-duty firearm discharge. The Air Force responded by ordering 100% inspections of all M18 pistols and temporarily suspending their use within Air Force Global Strike Command, replacing them with M4 rifles to maintain base security.
Some Air Combat Command units also paused M18 use pending refresher training. The service is continuing inspections of roughly 125,000 M18s in inventory.
From Malfunction Concerns to Negligence Charges
Early reports raised concerns that the M18 might have discharged without the trigger being pulled — a claim that has fueled lawsuits over the civilian-market Sig Sauer P320 on which the M18 is based. But the current charges suggest investigators believe the death resulted from a negligent trigger pull rather than a mechanical defect.
The Air Force Office of Special Investigations continues to lead the inquiry, with no further details yet released about the circumstances of the shooting.
Sig Sauer’s Position
Sig Sauer has strongly denied claims that its pistols can fire without the trigger being moved to the rear.
In a statement after the incident, the company said, “The [SIG Sauer] P320 pistol is one of the safest, most advanced pistols in the world — meeting and exceeding all industry safety standards… The P320 cannot, under any circumstances, discharge without the trigger first being moved to the rear.”
Sig Sauer added it had “proactively offered assistance” to the Air Force and remains willing to cooperate.
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Sig Sauer P320 M18 9mm 3.9" Barrel Coyote Tan Pistol + 3 Magazines | Bereli | $ 649.99 |
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Sig Sauer P320-M18 CA Compliant 9mm 3.90" Compact Pistol 10rds, Coyote - Sleek and Versatile - 320CA-9-M18-MS-CA | Palmetto State Armory | $ 699.99 $ 649.99 |
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Sig Sauer P320-M18 9MM Pistol | Rainier Arms | $ 649.99 |
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Remembering Airman Lovan
Lovan, of Greenville, Kentucky, joined the Air Force in November 2023 and had been stationed at F.E. Warren since May 2024. Col. Jeremy Sheppard, commander of the 90th Security Forces Group, described him as a “valued defender, teammate and friend.”
Report state:
“He served as a remote targeting engagement system operator in the 90th Security Forces Group, 90 Security Forces Squadron. He worked inside the weapons storage area while on duty in Wyoming, according to his obituary.
People who knew Lovan described him to local news outlets as an enthusiastic athlete and a young man with an exceptional sense of duty.
“He was such a selfless kid … it didn’t matter, I could ask Brayden to do just about anything for our team, and it was always, ‘Yes, sir.’ And the job would get done,” his former basketball coach Aaron Morris told Kentucky’s 14 News.“
Where It Goes From Here
The pause on M18 use in certain Air Force commands remains in place pending completion of the safety review. The case is expected to remain under investigation for weeks or months, with military prosecutors now preparing formal charges against the accused airman.
Air Force Pauses Use of Sig Sauer M18 Handgun After Airman Killed
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A member of my family, spent over 15 years of his Law Enforcement Career, as an Armorer/Instructor for a large well respected Police training Academy, used by many law enforcement agencies. They had many discharges of the Sig 320, that they ruled negligent, most of them on the street, a few in training, though the user protested and swore they never touched the trigger. “because no modern firearm goes off by it self!” Then an Instructor, recorded on video, holstered his Sig 320, a full 3 seconds later turned to address the class and BANG, weeks later they had a… Read more »
So, all of the other incidents & videos documenting it are false? That’s a bold move, Cotton!
While the truth of what actually happened is not out yet the fact remains that there are several demonstrations of sig 320’s firing without the trigger being touched to be found on YouTube. I have watched several different ones. Just to cover all the bases the military will bring charges on anyone/everyone who was present when the round went off and is bound to find out the actual cause of the weapon firing sooner or later. Until that happens everything is just speculation. This does NOT mean that anyone is guilty of anything, they are just checking the possibilities. If… Read more »
I have watched numerous youtube videos on both the Sig 320 and P365. I don’t own a 320, so I have no stake in this situation one way or the other… but I’m recently retired…. and bored. The P365XL is my EDC, so I watched some on it also to see if it was safe. In every video I have seen that showed the 320 discharging by depressing or shaking the slide, it did not fire unless the trigger was moved rearward to the edge of the breaking point first, and only then did manipulation of the slide push it… Read more »
every gun grabber alive was described in that statement
How dod Sig-Sauer get ALL of our military firearms contracts? Sounds lije the fix is in for the faulty M18 pistols; only requiring a few sacrifices and scapegoats.
the M17 and M18 both have external safeties which do more than just block the trigger. these are not your standard 320’s.
Appears a fellow airman used the un-commanded firing of the weapon to cover up his own negligence. IMOA, the weapon still appears to have an issue for everyday carry stemming from other mishaps.
FBI Report: SIG Sauer M18/P320 Safety Concerns Explained
I think that you have identified him perfectly. He is sneaking around with his down vote, but I fixed this one. Have a blessed Texas day!!
I smell a cover-up/scapegoat situation by a military that doesn’t want to admit how clearly they fucked-up by choosing the SIG – or trying to avoid a deeper look into the selection process that might uncover some dirt.